Tuesday, September 28, 2010

If you're anything like me, you can never have too many bags, especially nice sized totes. Tote bags are generally pretty large, but when I received my personalized tote bag from Simply Bags recently, I was surprised how HUGE it is! Plus, I was able to get it personalized with my daughter's name, and there is a huge selection of colors, as you can see below:

I chose the baby blue beach tote for my daughter and she loves it! It's a very sturdy bag made with environmentally friendly materials. Did I mention how HUGE it is?!23"W x 14"H, seven inch bottom - Overall height 25"! HUGE!

I can fit all kinds of stuff in there for a trip to the beach, but my daughter likes to carry her dolls or clothes when she's going for a sleepover. There's even a handy inner pocket!

Next time you're in the market for a tote bag made out of quality materials, check out Simply Bags.

Disclaimer:I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Whether or not we would like to admit it or not, Christmas is going to be here before we know it and I have the perfect opportunity to save some money on your Christmas cards, or if you prefer - Holiday cards.

You can WIN them!

About Cards Direct:

Cards Directoffers the very best in personalized greeting cards for business or personal use. Over 2,000 card designs are available in categories that include holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, photo cards, baby shower invitations, birth announcements and many more! With free personalization and custom imprinted verse, CardsDirect offers an easy online ordering process and top quality cards with the best selection, customer service and pricing found anywhere.

I think what I'm going to order is some Baby Announcements - my friend's daughter is supposed to have her first baby in the next two weeks and Cards Direct has some really cute designs!

I think this is THE CUTEST birth announcement EVER - don't you?! It's so darling!

GIVEAWAY

One of you lucky readers of mine will win twenty-five cards (up to a $50 value!) To enter to win, explore the cards via the links I included above and come back here and tell me a type of card you'd like to order. You can include a link if you like - so I can get some ideas on stuff! (Required entry)

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and over (sorry Canadian residents!) This giveaway will end on 10/12.

Disclaimer:I was sent 50 cards from Csrds Direct to facilitate in this review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

I was contacted back in August for this, and was sent four coupons to try out Smart Balance Omega-3 Natural Eggs. Even though I don't always eat the best, I really have been striving to eat better and feed my children healthier foods. One way to do this is with eggs.

Eggs get a lot of bad rap for their cholesterol content, but just like everything else, everything in moderation is key. Eggs are a simple way to get protein, vitamins, and Omega-3s.

About Smart Balance Omega-3 Grade A Natural Large Eggs

70mg of DHA Omega-3 and 180mg of ALA Omega-3 per serving.

25% less saturated fat than regular eggs (1g versus 1.5g, rounded)

Hens are fed a 100% vegetarian diet

2 eggs provide 384mg of the nutrients DHA/ALA Omega-3s combined

Good source of Vitamins E, D & A

Over 400% more total Omega-3’s than a regular egg

The hens are also raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, as well as never fed any kind of animal by-products. Another great thing that I love is that the eggs are packaged in 100% recycled &
environmentally friendly materials!

STEP 8:

STEP 9:

STEP 10:

Bake muffins at 425 for 15-20 minutes, depending on size of muffins. Use a toothpick to monitor... when toothpick inserted into middle of muffin comes out clean, they're done! For banana bread, bake in loaf pan at 350 for about 50-60 minutes

Disclaimer:I was sent four free product coupons for the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Disclaimer:I was sent the same kit that is being given away above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Friday, September 17, 2010

I'm all about dreams and having goals and working to attain them. I'm probably one of the most ambitious people you'll ever meet.

I'm also a realist.

I've always had dreams - who hasn't!? Mine ranged from being a model to an actress to going to Harvard Law School. Then life veered off track for me and I lost sight of what I wanted to do. I chose to be lazy and hang out instead of working hard for what I wanted.

I paid for that mistake, too, my friend.

When I decided to move into a shelter about 11 years ago, one thing they made all of us do when we first moved in was to make a timeline of our lives.

Let me tell you - that was One. Of. The. HARDEST. Things. I. Have. EVER done. Even to this day.

We were to start from as early as we could remember, and mark major life events down on this timeline. Good and bad.

The point of this timeline is to see why we were in the situation we were in, and what happened to get us there.

Then we made goals.

We started with 3 long-term goals and 3 short-term goals. Every time we accomplished a goal, we cross it off of our list and added a new one.
I accomplished my first goal within 3 months - I got my GED. I then began college at our local community college.

Over the years, I have momentarily lost sight of my goals and veered off track, or my goals have changed, but the point of this post - you will soon see.

I was going to go to Type-A Mom Conference, but since I just started a job about a month ago, and I couldn't secure any sponsors, I had to cancel my trip. I'm devastated but my children still need school clothes, I need new tires on my car, and I'm trying to move soon.Realistically, I can't afford the trip and I am an adult - I can't do everything.

Type-A Mom just isn't coming to fruition for me this year.

There's always next year.

Right?

So for now, I'll have to watch Twitter for #typeamom posts on Twitter and dream about meeting these girls:

Kelby, who is the Maven of the conference (and many other things! YOU GO GIRL!)

Lisa, whose writings make me laugh regularly and sometimes even make me cry!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The older I get, the more wisdom I gain. I know that most of you will agree.

Remember being young and dumb and thinking we knew it all? That no one could teach us anything?

I wanted to write a post, not because I want to WRITE more (instead of just doing reviews and giveaways), but because I've been working for a little over a month now and things are looking better for me, and I'm an all around happier person right now. I still have the drama (that I can't control) but I've learned that I can't change anyone, and I just go on about my business. I feel so much wiser this year than I did last year, and I wanted to share a few of my thoughs with you, as well as a Bible verse that has a lot of meaning to me right now.

Won't you sit down and join me for a spot?

A couple of things I've learned in the past 6 months to a year:

Humility

Appreciation

Empathy

If any of you keep up with my blog, or my private blog, you may know why those three words are there and no others.

I personally think that God had a message for me, and it's still playing out. He did something really drastic because I wasn't listening.

This happens to most of us throughout our lives - because, let's face it - it's hard to remember that God IS IN CONTROL. I have that problem alot. I'm learning to let go of that and remember that God does have it. He IS in control.

Here's the reasons for those three words above:

Humility
A year ago, I was on top of the world. I had it all. I also had a very large ego and thought I was in control. I also have a big problem of being very untrusting and closed off, because of things that people have done to me in the past. I think this was God's way to remind me that we are all vulnerable and need to remember to be humble and thank Him daily.

Appreciation
God has brought me through ALOT of things in my life. I don't always remember to thank Him or even talk to him.
Does this happen to you? You get so caught up on daily life that sometimes you don't even Pray?
It happens to me and I need to be better. I vow to be better! I am so appreciative for God bringing me through many dark moments in my life, out of poisonous relationships, and especially for bringing me my children. They truly are my sanity and my reason for what I do.

Empathy
I always want people to understand how I'm feeling, and I know it's not all about me, but as with everything else, I get caught up in daily life and don't always remember that everyone has issues.

Dealing with some people that I've been dealing with for the past 8 or so months, has taught me to be more empathetic. I used to think that their behavior somehow resulted from something that I had done, or that my children had done. I've learned (and I honestly don't know how I forgot this one!) that sometimes misery truly does love company and that some people just aren't happy.

I feel empathy for these people because I know what it is like to be trapped in a prison - a manmade prison or a mental prison - they're pretty much the same! Remember, people will only do to us what we ALLOW them to do to us, so if you're experiencing a horrible time in your life, but you choose to not get out of it - then I can't do anything for you except be empathetic. After all, we know what happens when you give someone advice right?!

Here's a verse that I've been thinking about for weeks:

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

I love handmade items, as well as exotic items, and one thing that I can tell you about NOVICA, is that you will find all types of interesting, beautiful, or exotic items!

NOVICA works with National Geographic to give talented artisans a place to express their talents and showcase them to the world.

I was sent an electronic gift card for $50 for sharing this with you, and while I was browsing, I decided to check out the home decor and silver jewelry since I need some new jewelry and I hope to be getting a new place soon, I'll need some new decorations and stuff too.

Faithful readers, I can't take it any more. For a long time, I had comment moderation on. This meant that you had to enter a code to ensure you were a human and not a bot. I realized that this might cause problems for those of you entering giveaways, but I'm going to have to turn it back on again.

I work full time again, as well as parent 2 kids, and I just don't have time to keep moderating these spam comments that come in multiple times a day. I apologize, but I have to do this - for my sanity.

I'm a full time mom as well as a full time employee. I sit at a desk most of the day and look at a computer. Some days I go home with a neckache that I can't get rid of. Why? I'm pretty tall (for a girl) - 5'8" - and the desk I sit at is pretty short. I had to lower my chair to account for this, but now my legs are up higher than I usually like them.

It's frustrating! I like my chairs all the way up that way my feet are still flat on the ground, but I'm also comfortable. Plus, in a previous job, we went through a little presentation on ergonomics. (Don't believe me? Click the link!)

I learned how I'm supposed to be sitting, and unfortunately, my temporary location is not ideal for how I should be sitting. It sucks.

Enter Salonpas...

Salonpas is the ONLYFDA-approved over-the-counter patch proven to work on mild to moderate pain.

Salonpas contains an NSAID that works directly at the site where the pain is without upsetting the stomach, and it works for 12 hours.

Now, I don't have arthritis, but some days you know how when you start getting older, your bones begin to stick and crack when you move? Oh! That's so annoying! Hopefully that is not a telltale sign of arthritis, but for now, I'm good... But it's good to know that Salonpas has us covered if we need Arthritis pain relieving patches!

I usually take Excedrin for most of my pain. I've had three children and with one of them, I had an epidural. It seems that ever since I got that shot, that I have pain in my lower back because of that epidural. I've been able to use a Salonpas pain relieving patch when I had pain in my back, and the patch helped considerably!

For the neckpain I've been experiencing pretty regularly as of late, these pain relieving patches are a God send! I'm not even kidding with you when I say this!

I'm on the computer all day at work and then sometimes when I go home, plus on the weekends, so if I'm constantly looking down at a screen, my neck is bound to suffer!

I am in love with these patches and I'm proud to share them with you! THEY WORK! Try them!

Plus, get great tips for TV viewing. Check out the “What to Watch” section for categories including Just for Moms, Family Time Viewing, and Watch with Kids. Click on the show, and the TV show starts playing! Also check out the Tips & Tools tab for busy parents – learn about parental controls for your TV as well as internet safety tips.

You can enter every day. Deadline for entry is November 10, 2010. Go ahead and enter today!

Disclaimer:I was not compensated in any manner for sharing this giveaway with my readers.

Lose-A-Palooza is a one-day social media event created to encourage participation in the Lose For Good® campaign to benefit Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

As part of the Lose For Good campaign, Weight Watchers will donate $1, up to a maximum of $60,000, to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger for each approved mention, acknowledgment or action related to “Lose For Good” made on September 14th through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and check-in via foursquare.

Important note: there is a difference between Lose For Good and Lose-A-Palooza. Lose For Good is a 7-week campaign, Lose-A-Palooza, on the other hand, is a one-day event as part of the Lose For Good campaign. The event runs one day only – September 14th – and its objective is to drive as much social media awareness as possible for Lose For Good. Every time Lose For Good is mentioned using an approved method on 9/14, Weight Watchers will track the mention and donate a dollar – up to $60,000.

Here's how YOU can help!

Blogs -*Comment on a blog post about Lose For Good.FRIENDS - Please comment on this post! Don’t forget to include “Lose For Good” in your comment.

* Community write a post including “Lose For Good” in the Community on WeightWatchers.com.

foursquare -* Check-in to a Weight Watchers meeting room to help contribute to the good.

Note: foursquare check-in is not considered a weekly meeting attendance and you will not receive Program materials, unless you decide to stay and attend a meeting and, if applicable, pay the fees then in effect. Only one check-in per user will be counted.

Disclaimer:I am participating in this campaign on behalf of the One2One Network and have the chance to win a gift card for participating.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Thanks to all of you for being patient with me as I try to get adjusted in a new job, and deal with issues from being out of work, as well as dealing with a local fundraiser and getting ready for TYPE-A MOM CONFERENCE!

I do not send flowers on a regular basis n or do I receive them on a regular basis. : (
I love all flowers and usually like it more if I were to get something other than a rose because it is different.